Relatives of those who 'fought and died for Ireland' in plea to save old Cork Prison

Family members of those executed in, imprisoned in or impacted by historical events at the old Cork Prison have signed a letter calling for the planned demolition of the building not to go ahead.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan recently approved the demolition of the building, though plans will be modified to incorporate Thomas Kent’s cell, the gatehouse, stone bastion features, and sections of the old walls into the proposed new prison onsite.

Cork city councillors had just weeks previously agreed that the building should be added to the  council’s protected structures site, which is currently the subject of a public consultation.

The letter is signed by family members Michael Riordan (Thomas Kent), Cathal MacSwiney Brugha (Terence MacSwiney), Fionnuala Mac Curtain (Tomás Mac Curtain), Tadhg Barry Galvin (Tadhg Barry), Sean Hales (Tom and Sean Hales), Michael O’Mahony (Dick Barrett), Neil Collins Powell (Michael Collins), and Jim Hegarty (the Hegarty family).

The letter, seen by The Echo, reads: “We are proud of our family legacy in fighting for Irish freedom and we come from across this island, across the political spectrum, and across society to oppose the proposed demolition of this historic structure.”

Unique opportunity

They said the building “presents a unique opportunity” to tell the story of Cork and Ireland, in a similar manner to Dublin’s Kilmainham.

“We call on the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice to withdraw all plans for demolition on this site and to instead develop a plan for its use as a place to connect physically with our loved ones and all of those who fought and died for Ireland.”

History podcaster Eolan Ryng said: “I am delighted that the families of some of those most prominent leaders in the War of Independence in Cork have come together to clearly lay out the importance of saving this building and making it available for future generations. These are the people who fought and died for Ireland.

“They have come from across the political spectrum, across the divide of history to say clearly that their loved ones, and the stories of all of those imprisoned and executed in the detention barracks, deserve to be told,” Mr Ryng said.

“Sean Allen, who never got to wed his fiancée; Tom and Sean Hales, who fought on opposite sides of the Civil War; Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney, who died as Ard Mhéara Corcaigh; and so many more.

“These are stories of friendship, of love, of family, and of passion. Locking them away is like putting these stories behind bars.

“They deserve to be told. I believe that this letter should be the final nail in the coffin of the plan to lock our history away.”